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John Pricci

HorseRaceInsider.com executive editor John Pricci has over three decades of experience as a thoroughbred racing public handicapper and was an award-winning journalist while at New York Newsday for 18 years.

John has covered 14 Kentucky Derbies and Preaknesses, all but three Breeders' Cups since its inception in 1984, and has seen all but two Belmont Stakes live since 1969.

Currently John is a contributing racing writer to MSNBC.com, an analyst on the Capital Off-Track Betting television network, and co-hosts numerous handicapping seminars. He resides in Saratoga Springs, New York.

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Saturday, May 03, 2014

CALIFORNIA CHROME CRUISES TO VICTORY

By Press Release

LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, May 3, 2014) – Steven Coburn and Perry Martin’s favored California Chrome, ridden by Victor Espinoza, took command at the head of the stretch en route to a 1 3/4-length victory over Commanding Curve to win the 140th running of the $2,202,800 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I).

A sun-splashed crowd of 164,906, the second-largest attendance in Kentucky Derby history, watched California Chrome give jockey Victor Espinoza a second Derby victory to go with his triumph on War Emblem in 2002.

The largest Derby crowd was 165,307 in 2012.

Art Sherman, 77, conditions California Chrome and became the oldest trainer to win a Kentucky Derby winner. Charlie Whittingham was 76 when Sunday Silence won the 1989 Kentucky Derby.

Uncle Sigh led the field of 19 through fractions of :23.04 and :47.37 with Chitu and Samraat in closest pursuit. California Chrome led the second pack and began to close in after six furlongs in 1:11.80.

By the time the field hit the top of the stretch, California Chrome was showing his heels to all of his pursuers, opening up at midstretch and coasting under the wire well clearing of Commanding Curve.

The victory was worth $1,442,800 and increased California Chrome’s earnings to $2,577,650 with a record of 11-7-1-0.

California Chrome is the first California bred to win the Run for the Roses since Decidedly in 1962. He is a son of Lucky Pulpit out of the Not For Love mare Love the Chase.

California Chrome covered the 1 ¼ miles on a fast main track in 2:03.66.

It was another 2 ¾ lengths back to Wicked Strong, who was followed in order by Samraat, Dance With Fate, Ride On Curlin, Medal Count, Chitu, We Miss Artie, General a Rod, Intense Holiday, Candy Boy, Uncle Sigh, Tapiture, Harry’s Holiday, Vinceremos, Wildcat Red and Vicar’s in Trouble.

TRAINER QUOTES

Art Sherman, trainer of California Chrome, first – “Just awesome. I’m breathless. This is so cool. I think I rode the horse with Victor (Espinoza) the last 70 yards. It was a picture-perfect ride. He was right where he should have been all the way around. Coming down the stretch I was thinking: ‘Keep rollin’ big boy. Keep rollin’.’ This has to be the sweetest moment of my life. To be my age and have something like this happen, what can you say? For all my friends in California, this is for you. We did it!”

Dallas Stewart, trainer of Commanding Curve, second – “I wish I was out there (in the infield winner's circle), but you know, hey, I thank God for everything, the way it is, and that's what keeps us going for next year. Hopefully, we'll be back here next year. On training the second-place finisher two years in a row: "I would never get frustrated over that. There's a lot of things to be frustrated about. Getting beat in a horse race isn't one of them.'' On whether the Preakness is a possibility: "You know, who knows? Maybe. Yeah, probably. We'll see. He's a big, strong horse. You can see he handled the paddock real good. He handles a lot of things good. So, I doubt the race would knock him out. I was just hoping California Chrome would kind of give in a little bit, but he didn't. We were running at him. I mean, Shaun (Bridgmohan) said, 'He was running, Dallas.' So I'm very proud of him.''

Todd Pletcher, trainer of Danza, third, We Miss Artie, 10th, Intense Holiday, 12th and Vincremos, 17th, – On Danza: “I thought he ran well. Coming by the wire first time, he got bumped by Vinceremos. But he got back in position and started to respond. Joe (Bravo) had to move him a little earlier than he wanted to. Considering that this was only the fifth race of his life, you’ve got to say it was a very good effort.” On Intense Holiday: “He was hung outside all the way around. He just never seemed to get with it.” On Vinceremos (17th): “He got into trouble in two different spots. He was involved in two bumping incidents. It was just a tough race for him to run.” On We Miss Artie (10th): “We took him back and tried to make a late run with him. He’ll go in the Queen’s Plate next.”

Jimmy Jerkens, trainer of Wicked Strong, fourth – “I thought he ran decent. He didn’t accelerate fast enough to go through the holes that were opening and those closed up on him quickly. He was making nice forward motion at the end though and that was encouraging.”

Rick Violette, trainer of Samraat, fifth – “I thought he his ran eyeballs out. He laid it out on the line. The kid (Jose Ortiz) rode a terrific race. No second guessing, my horse ran a great race. The winner was just better. We looked him in the eye and he just pulled away. My horse came out of the race good. So far so good. I feel bad for a horse that ran so well and so hard and only got fifth place.”

Peter Eurton, trainer of Dance With Fate, sixth – "After talking with [jockey Corey Nakatani], it sounds like he handled the dirt OK. He just didn't have that necessary kick to continue. If he continues his run he's right there. Unfortunately he didn't. Whether it was getting hold of the dirt or not, whether it was the mile and a quarter, or going a little further because he was a little wide--I don't know. He had a clean trip, though. No excuses."

Billy Gowan, trainer of Ride On Curlin, seventh – Not available for comment.

Dale Romans, trainer of Medal Count, eighth – “I felt good about where we were the whole race, even up the backside. About the half-mile pole I thought we were ranging up exactly where we needed to be and he could quicken from there. I wish there had been a lot more pace in the race. It looked on paper like there would be a lot more. We got shut off pretty badly down the lane but, I don’t know, that’s the Derby. I think we could’ve moved up a couple positions but I don’t think it kept us from winning. I do want to say one thing on the record. I didn’t think that California Chrome had any chance going into this race and I was very, very wrong. Whether the crop’s a good crop or not, that’s a special horse. I was wrong. I was a very big skeptic; I threw him out of all my tickets in every spot. I didn’t think he fit the profile to win the Derby. I’m very impressed the way he came into it, the way he looked, the way he was prepared and the way he ran. Now he has a new fan.”

Bob Baffert, trainer of Chitu, ninth – “He ran well for a while. I was watching California Chrome stalking. You could tell he was comfortable the whole way. He’s for real. It’s going to be a great Triple Crown series.”

Mike Maker, trainer of General a Rod, 11th, Harry’s Holiday, 16th and Vicar’s in Trouble 19th, – On Vicar's in Trouble: "It looked like he got bounced off the rail early.” On Harry's Holiday and General a Rod: "It just looked like they weren't good enough. That's about it.''

John Sadler, trainer of Candy Boy, 13th – “It was a nightmare trip. He was never in a good position at any point and almost went down in the first turn. He just didn’t get any kind of trip. The track was speed favoring all day and that didn’t help us. But he looks good back at the barn and as long as he came back in one piece we are happy.”

Gary Contessa, trainer of Uncle Sigh, 14th – “He got the lead and the pace wasn’t fast. But he just got beat.”

Steve Asmussen, trainer of Tapiture, 15th – “He just flattened out. He put himself in a good spot, had every chance, made a little run around the turn and then just got tired.”

Jose Garoffalo, trainer of Wildcat Red, 18th – “I’d have to say the track was a factor. He couldn’t handle the track. I think I’ll give him a break now and look for a race.”